Washington, DC., (July 21, 2020)—As the nation mourns the Friday, July 17, 2020, passing of civil rights legend Congressman John Lewis, the National Job Corps Association offers the following statement.

“The National Job Corps Association pays homage to civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis. His leadership during the civil rights movement, including his advocacy for economic opportunity, in addition to civil and voting rights, during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom contributed to the launch of the War on Poverty and the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 that created Job Corps. Throughout his time in Congress, Rep. Lewis was a champion for Job Corps and its students, including as a founding member of the Friends of Job Corps Caucus. He ensured that Atlanta Job Corps Center students interned at his congressional office, participated in graduation ceremonies and the center’s community meetings, incorporated Job Corps into his annual job fairs, and, most recently, worked to ensure a new Atlanta Job Corps Center would be constructed after the initial site was closed because of infrastructure challenges. Every American lives in a more just society because of Congressman Lewis’ conscience, courage, and perseverance. We will continue to strive to follow his lead.”

“If you’re not hopeful and optimistic, then you just give up. You have to take the long hard look and just believe that if you’re consistent, you will succeed.” – John Lewis

About National Job Corps Association

NJCA, founded in 1998, is a not for profit coalition of Job Corps center operators and partners working in support of the national Job Corps program and the opportunities it provides young people to complete their education and develop marketable job skills. Job Corps was founded in 1964 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor.